Telangana’s 63-foot high Bathukamma bursts into Guinness glory

They came, they danced and they conquered. Hundreds of women from across the city, all adorned in the best of their traditional attires, tossed their goddess ‘Bathukamma’ to the Guinness World Records on Monday at Saroornagar Stadium, in a carefully choreographed dance performance.

The event has set two world records — one for its largest Bathukamma floral decoration at 63.11 feet high, 11 feet wide and weighing seven tonnes, and second for the highly synchronised performance by a large number of women, said to be 1,354, while the official count is not yet out.

Women were mobilised via self help groups from across the city, thanks to the joint effort by Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty and Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation. They were transported to the venue by buses, where they waited patiently for five to six hours for their moment under the sun.

However, many among them were disappointed as they were not allowed to be part of the performance. Women wearing anything other than saris and half saris were turned away; not even those in churidars were allowed. Many women had arrived not knowing that those part of the celebration were pre-selected.

“Apparently, a rehearsal was organised on Sunday and tokens were issued to women who attended. Only they were allowed to be part of the performance, and everybody else was turned away. We went for the Bathukamma Kunta launch yesterday, and had no information about the rehearsal. Even our group’s in-charge did not know. It’s all very poorly coordinated,” rued Rajitha, a resident of Malkajgiri.

Women arriving from as far as Keesara had to stay outside as a lucky few moved rhythmically in concentric circles around the gigantic floral goddess. An official informed that at 2 p.m., the number of women arriving at the venue was as high as 7,000, many of whom left later.

The decision to allow only those who attended the rehearsal was not without reason. Choreographers had some tense moments preparing the participants to stay in sync. A few leading performers were stood higher up around the ‘Bathukamma’ to give cues to the other performers below, towards a successfully synchronised event.

The event was organised as part of ‘Mana Bathukamma’ festivities being conducted by the Telangana Tourism department in coordination with other departments, from September 21 to 30. Ministers Jupally Krishna Rao and Danasari Anasuya (Seetakka), and balladeer Vimalakka attended the event and cheered on the performers.